Apparatus for conveying and stacking box blanks



NOV- 24,' 1,953 J. E. wlLsKE vErm. 2,660,432

APPARATUS FOR CONVYING AND STACKING BOX BLANKS Filed sepji.l 4, 194:5 v 7 sheets-sheet 1 JEZWILSKE L/Yftoxulcx 15G. Pozfzscjaf 'ZELL' Nv 24, 1953 J. E. wlLsKE ETAL APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING `AND STACKING BOX BLANKS ''sheets-.sneet 2 Filed Sept. 4, 1948 w W mm m wm rae.

Q @Ey NOV. 24, 195.3 J. E. wlLsKE ET AL 2,660.432

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND STACKING BOX BLANKS Filed sept. 4. 194e 7 sheets-sheet s Nr. 24, 19'53" J. E. wlLsKE ETAL `APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND STACKING BOX BLANKS '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 4, 1948 NOV- 24, 1953 J. E. wlLsKE ET AL 2,660,432

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND STACKING-BOX BLANKS Filed sept. 4, 194e '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 www@ Nov. 24, 1953 APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND STACKING BOX BLANKS Filed Sept. 4. 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 N0v- '24, 1953 J. E. wlLsKE ET AL. 2,660,432

APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND STACKING BOX BLANKS Filed Sept. 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 sToP smn'rs Patented Nov. 24, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING AND STACKING BOX BLANKS of Ohio Application September 4, 1948, Serial No. 47,774

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to apparatus for receiving blanks of sheet material and conveying, elevating and stacking them. The apparatus as herein illustrated is designed for receiving flat blanks, foldable for making boxes or cartons, conveying and elevating the blanks and stacking them, and will be described as used for such purposes. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to such use.

Our invention provides an apparatus for receiving the box blanks in flat form from a printing and slotting machine, and stacking the blanks on a truck or the like. In its preferred form it comprises a horizontally disposed travelling belt conveyor arranged to receive the blanks, an elevating belt conveyor onto which the blanks are discharged frcm the receiving conveyor, the elevating conveyor frame being mounted to swing upwardly from a lowered position in which it is substantially horizontal to an upwardly inclined position, thereby gradually lifting the discharge end as the stack of blanks increases in height, and means for then returning the conveyor to its lowered position preparatory to building a succeeding stack of blanks.

An object of the invention is to provide means by which the elevating conveyor is hoisted and lowered automatically combined with manual control devices by which the various operations of the receiving and elevating conveyors are under the control of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic means by which the receiving conveyor is run at a comparatively slow speed while the elevating conveyor is being lowered and then at a comparatively high speed during the stacking of the blanks.

A still further object of the invention is to provide manually controlled means by which the elevating conveyor may be inched up or down by the operator for adjusting the height of the discharge end of the conveyor to correspond with the height of the stack at the time of such adjustment. v

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring tc the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view at the line 2-2 on Fig. 3, showing adjacent end portions of the receiving and elevating conveyors.

Fig. 3 is a plain View of the apparatus, parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the receiving conveyor and its driving motor.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the adjacent end portions of the receiving and elevating conveyors and the driving motor for the elevating conveyor.

Fig. 6 is an elevational side View of the elevatingr conveyor and the hoisting mechanism therefor.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the hoisting mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper portion of the elevating conveyor as indicatedvby the line 3 8 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary part sectional plan view, showing a corner portion of the elevating conveyor and associated parts.

Fig. l0 is a sectional elevation at the line Ill-I IJ on Fig. 9.

Fig. ll is a wiring diagram of the electric motors and their controlling mechanism.

Referring to Fig. l, the invention comprises, in general terms, a horizontal endless belt conveyor I2, herein referred to as the receiving conveyor, receiving blanks B from a printing and slotting machine I3, a motor M1 which drives the receiving conveyor, an elevating conveyor I4 which receives the blanks from the conveyor I2, a motor M2 for driving the elevating conveyor, a hoisting motor M3 geared to hoisting drums I5 and operating intermittently for lifting the discharge end of the conveyor I4 step by step as the stack I5 of blanks is built up, and then lowering the elevating conveyor preparatory to building a succeeding stack of blanks. The blanks as shown are stacked on a truck I'I. Automatic control devices are provided for reversing the hoisting motor when the conveyor I4 reaches its upper and lower limits, stopping the travel of the elevating conveyor belts and reducing the speed of the receiving conveyor during the lowering of the elevating conveyor, all as set forth hereinafter.

The receiving and elevating conveyors and their motors are mounted on a horizontal base or framework 20. The hoisting mechanism is mounted on a platform 2| supported on an upright frame comprising vertical channel-iron frame members 22 and cross-bars 22'. The receiving conveyor I2 comprises a plurality of horizontally spaced endless conveyor belts 23 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5), trained over pulleys 24 on a driving shaft 25, and pulleys 26 on a driven shaft 2l. The belts are supported on sheet metal strips 28 mounted on cross channel-irons 29 attached to i the side frame members 39 of the conveyor frame. The conveyor I2 as a Whole is carried on a horizontal shaft 32, and is mounted for tilting movement from its horizontal working position to an approximately vertical position as shown in broken lines in :Fig 1. TheishaitZ is supported on standards v3.3 mountedfon it-he framework 29. Means for tilting the conveyor comprises a hand wheel 34 (Figs. 3 and 4) on a shaft 35, carrying a. worm 3B running in mesh with a worm gear segment 31 bolted `tothe conveyor frame. The downward tilting movement --of the conveyor frame is limited byganyadjustable step 42, screw-threaded into a post.43 s upporting the conveyor in its operating position. Tideimotor Ml which drives the conveyor l2, operates through speed reduction gearing within .a gear bx,.3 8, and sprocket driving chains39 and', the 'latter trained over a sprocket gear 4I keyed togthe-drive shaft 25.

VThe`| elevating conveyor .|4, which., is. sin 1ilarvin construction to the receivingconveyor 1.2, comprises endless .conveyor belts.45 spaced-horizon- .tallyand inline-with the conveyorbelts 23. The .belts- Aare `trainedover pulleys 45 (Fig. 3) on f a drive shaft 41, and pulleys 48 onadriven shaft A9 .-Fig. A8) .at the upper or dischargeend of :the conveyor. .The belts ,are-supported on underlying sheet metal strips 5I attached to cross-channel-.barsf52 forming Epart of .thefconveyor frame. The motor M2 which drives the oo nVQYQr-M, opcrates through speed reduction gearing within 4afgeear box 53 (Figs. and 5) Yand sprocket gear chains 54 and 55. IheChain .54 is trained over iaisprooKet Wrheel -on a stub shaft 56 mounted :inta-.standard'hSadhafb 15.6 being ,in horizontal alignment with the :.,ShaftiZlfof the `receiving zconveyor. `Tfhegchain;551istrainedlover a second sprocket wheel on the shaft `5H, and asprocket :wheel-358 keyed to 'the-drive' shaft 4 1. of athe elevating gconveyor. The :two sprocket iwheels `on .thestub shaftj ,are connectedto rotate as a unit.

'The-.shaft Mis journaled in rock armssf v and Giorghangers which support the receiving end of the elevating conveyor. at one end on-the stub shaft 561and'thearm5l is likewise'jo-,urnaled at one end onqastubshaft s55 1in `alignmentwit-h the .shaft l27. `-The drive shafti'lis journaled'in the opposite ends of-the rock-arms 560,16i. This construction permitsfthe lower or `receivingenol of `the elevating .conveyor -tofswing about the axisof the :stubshafts `and 56 during the hoisting and lowering of the conveyor whichswingsfrom its lowered or horizontal position Vto its upward position shown in broken vlines onFigq5.

Thehoisting motor M3 has driving connections -Withthe lhoisting drums through Speeder-education gearing withina gear boxz62 (Figs. `-l and '7), said gearing driving vthe-drum shaft 63 on1which-the jhoisting drums i5 are mounted. Cables -`E5, `wound on thedrums, are `attachedtotrun-nions |66 or posts, bolted to the side frame members El of Athe elevating "conveyor, a -short distanceifrom 'the Vdischarge 'end of the conveyor. V Rollers 6 8 `journaled -on the free ends -of the trunnions L66 `-run-in vertical guidewaysgformed by 'guide rails EB'bolted to the uprightrame members JZ2. It

will'be seen that with this construction vthejpath of .up-and-down V movement of the `discharge end ofthe conveyor isapproxmately vertical, .thereby permitting .the .blanks Bnas they are VYdisoharged from the conveyor tobe bultinto sub- .stantially VertCaLstacks |76. AThe motor :Mais

equipped with a -brake 59 actuated by an electromagnet 59 which is deenergized to apply the brake when the motor circuit is opened.

The conveyor i4 is provided at its upper end with across bar 10 carried on hangers 1I pivoted to anddepending fromrthe lconveyor shaft 49. 'lhebar 'lfisweighted Ihina-metal rodf'l2 so that the front face of the bar 1'0 is maintained in a substantially vertical plane. The bar serves as f) theelevator is lowered, as more fully described hereinafter.

The.receiving conveyor-is provided at its dischargeend witha series of guards ,89 l(FigsZ and 3) interposed between the belts 23 Aand attached to acrossbarz29 of :the conveyor frame. These guards :extend downward into position to prevent blanks.' B from slipping or being carriedlback'beneath the conveyor belts.

`Referring tothe wiring diagram (Fig. 1l) the motors and their controldevices receive current supplied through the mains, a., b, and c of a threephase system. The motors .are connected 'drectly to the mains. The relay magnetcoils receive current through `a Nstep-downtransformer comprising #the 'primary winding 8| connected tothe mains fb, c, and a lsecondary winding 82 to which are connected the lead wires or Vmains-83 and S84. 'The motor M1 is wound for fast and slow speeds, and operates todi-'ive the -receiving conveyor at slow speed while the elevating conveyor -is vbeing'lowered and at full speed while the l'elevating conveyor beltsare running. -Electrornagnet coils-85 and 86 operateto close -the ,motorswitchesffor `fast `and slow speed windings respectively. .Control devices for-the mOiOl M1 include a push button starting switch-8l, a stop switch =88, relay coil 89-for closingfa holding circuit, anda relay i-operative-toshift the motor connections from slow-speed Ato fast speed, all as `presently 'described.

Control devices associated with motor M2 which -drives the elevating conveyor belts include a stop Aswitch-9 2,starting switch :93, and relay G Qil 9 4 `for operating the motor switch 95. A Selector switch \98is shittable from position for manual control-to a-position for f ull automatic control of theseveral motors.

The hoistingmotor M3 is reversible. A switch 9lwhen closed by itsrelay coil 98, makesa circuit for operating the motor in a direction tojhoist the elevating conveyor. A switch -`99 and its lcoil 100 control the current supply for running the motor in the reverse direction. The hoisting movement of theelevating conveyor is under the control of a timer device T including a relay coil 102 -an'd -switch H33. The timer operates yautomatically to cause an intermittent step-by-step upward-movement of the discharge end of the conveyor. As the-stack |15 of vblanks is-being built up, the hoisting movement of the conveyor is 4at fa rate -such'that the discharge end of the .conveyor `isa-t1all times -just above the top level of thestaQk.

zIn .Order to permit manual vcontrol oi such hoisting movement, there is provided means for inching the conveyor up or down, that is, increasing the rate of upward movement or reversing the movement to correspond to the height of the stack of blanks. Such control devices include push buttons |05 and |06 for raising the conveyor and push buttons |01 and |08 for lowering it in the manner hereinafter described.

Operation The operation is as follows:

Assuming the motors to be at rest and the elevating conveyor I 4 in its lowered position and no blanks being fed to the apparatus, the operator first closes the push button starting switch 81. This completes a circuit for starting the motor M1 and running it at slow speed, said circuit may be traced from the transformer main 83 through wire i I5, switch contact bar I I6, wire I8, contact bar I |9, wire |29, relay coil 8S,-and wire |2| to main 8K4. The coil 96 being energized, closes the motor switch |22 so that the motor starts and runs the receiving conveyor I2 at slow speed. The closing of the starting switch 81 also completes a circuit for the relay coil 89 whichV circuit extends through wire IIE, contact bars ||6, II1, coil 89, wires |23 and |24.' The relay coil 89 lifts its contact bar 89a and thereby closes a holding circuit (short circuiting the switch 81).

The operator then presses the push button 93 for starting the motor M2 which drives the elevating conveyor. This completes a circuit which may be traced from the transformer main 83 through wire |26, stop switch 92, starting switch 93, wire |21, coil 94, wires |28, |25 and a limit switch LS to main 84. The coil 99 being energized, closes the motor switch 95 and starts the motor M2. The switch 95 includes a contact bar |29 which closes a holding circuit across the starting switch 93. The contact bar |29 also completes a circuit for the relay 90, which circuit may be traced from main 83 through wire |26, stop switch 92, wires |30, I3I, contact bar |29, wire |32, relay coil 90, and wire |33. The relay 90 being energized, operates to change the circuit connections for the motor M1 from slow speed to fast speed. That is, the contact bar I9 being lifted, opens the circuit through the slow speed relay 83 and closes a circuit through the fast speed relay 85 so that the motor switch |22 is opened and the switch |34 is closed, causing the motor to run at high speed. The elevating and receiving conveyors are now both running, the latter at full speed.

The operator next starts the printer I3 (Fig. 1) so that blanks B are delivered onto the conveyor I2. This may be at a rate such that the forward end of each blank is a short distance back of the preceding blank, with each blank overlapping a number of the preceding blanks. As the foremost blanks approach the discharge end of the receiving conveyor, thevoperator throws the selector switch 9B from the'hand control position (shown in full lines) to the automatic control. This completes a circuit through the relay coil ||0 and coil |02 of a timer T. This circuit can be traced from the transformer main 83 through wire |26, stop switch 92, selector switch 96, wire |35, and through coils I0 and |02 in parallel to main 84. The relays ||0, |02 being energized, close their switches and thereby make a circuit for the relay 99 of the motor switch 91. This circuit extends from main 93 through wire |26, stop switch 92, wires |30, |33, |31, switch contact bars |03, wire |38, switch |01, wire |39, and wire |40. The motor switch 91 is thus 6 closed and the motor M3 starts in the direction for hoisting the discharge end of the elevating conveyor.

As the hoisting operation is necessarily comparatively slow in order to keep the discharge end of the elevating conveyor just above the upper level of the rising stack of blanks, the timer T is employed to effect intermittent operation of the motor M3 during the hoisting operation and permitting continuous running of the motor in the reverse direction while the elevating conveyor is being rapidly lowered. The timer T operates its contact bar |03 intermittently for opening and closing the motor control circuit, the timing (which may be adjustable) being such that the motor only runs for relatively short intervals. The circuit may be closed, for example, for one or two seconds and open for 30 or more seconds. As the timer is a commercial article, known in the art, further illustration is deemed unnecessary. such a timer, which has been found practical for use with the present invention is the product made by Eagle Signal Corporation, Moline, Illinois, and marketed under the trade name Flexopulse process timer.

As the elevating conveyor reaches its upper limit of movement, the limit switches LS and LS2 are automatically opened, and limit switches LS4 and LS3 are closed. The opening of the limit switch LS opens the circuits through the relay 94, coil |02 of the timer T, and relay 90. The opening of a circuit through coil 94 opens the switch 95 and stops the motor M2 thereby stopping the elevating conveyor. The opening of the circuit for the timer coil |0| permits the lowering of the conveyor without interruption by the timer. The opening of the circuit through relay 90 operates to shift the motor M1 from fast speed to slow speed, by opening the circuit for the magnet coil and closing the circuit for the slow speed coil 86.

The opening of the upper limit switch LS2 opens the circuit through the coil 98 of the motor switch 91, thereby opening said switch and stopping the hoisting motor M3. The closing of the limit switches LS'J and LS3 establishes a circuit for the coil |00 of the motor switch 99 so that the motor M3 is started in the direction to lower the elevating conveyor. This circuit for the coil may be traced from the main 83 through wire |25, stop switch 92, wires |30, |33, |31, contact bar ||2, wire |42, limit switch LSft, switch I 06, limit switch LS3, wire I 43, coil |09, and wire |40. The limit switch LS, closes j as soon as the elevating conveyor starts downward, being held open only while the conveyor is at its uppermost position. 'I'he limit switch LS4 is only held closed momentarily, while the conveyor is in its upper postion, to permit a circuit to be made through the relay |953 for closing the switch 99 and starting the hoisting motor M3 in the direction for lowering the conveyor. When the motor switch 99 is thus closed, a contact bar |34 carried on the switch closes a holding circuit connected across the limit switch LS4, permitting continued operation ofthe motor after the limit switch LSII opens.

As the elevating conveyor is completing its downward movement the limit switch LSB opens, thereby breaking' the circuit through the coil |99 and opening the switch 99 t0 stop the motor M3. A limit switch LS5 connected between wires |3| and |32 leading from the contact bar |29, is closed as the elevating conveyor completes its downward movement, and thereby completes the accesses circuitstonele etsaid contact .bar f-l29,-11emy, @theciscuitsfthrouehthe:meterswitchce. s., the timer T, and the relay 90. The circuitrorthe c oilsll rbeing y i.husg-closed, :the s\vi tch95 ..,is closed fand-,starts .the motorM2 and-elevating.: conveyor. -lhescircuit established throughthetrelay v..- abov e,notedrflifts .thezcontact har. I` t9 and thereby C shifts the .motor AM1 from slow to .fast ,speed Th-is.- completes the cycleof .operations initiated ...manually .hy Y. operating the .starting switch .-B iand ,thereafter shifting the `selector Y:switch to :automatic control. .The apparatus .will continue gtooperate .automatically .until stopped by the o lcerator.

4.During ythe automatic `operation itis possible for; the operator to .eiiect any `.of `the following adjustments andcontrolling Voper-ations manually. A.Whilethe Istack of blanks ,is .being jbuilt, he may inch the `elevating .conveyor up- .wardlybypressing the push 'buttonwitch U15. This switch `,is interconnected ,with the switch 1.06 by ,a connection indicated vby brokenlineJAE so gthat r,said switches 1-nove upward ,and .,downward together. ',llheeswitches i'liancl I .tare interconnected in like manner. NWhenthe switch L05 ,isclosed, it short circuits the open switch 1h63 ofv the Atimer T-andthus permits the hoisting frnotor -M3 .to -run `contimiously until vthe .push button switch 1.55 is released The elevating .conveyor maybe incheddownward Alcy-;pressing `the lower posh button ..1 Ell .while the hoisting ,motori/3 is running in the direction for hoisting the ,.conveyor. This opens the ,circuit through the moton switch relay Band thereby stops .the motor M3, andatthesaine timefcloses .thecircuit tfor the ymotorcontrol .magnet IDB :so .that thel .switch .SiS closes ,and ,starts the. motor M3 inthe reverse. direction, thereby .loweringthe conveyor. ,By .Such .up and fdOvm inchins movements `the neighbor theelevating. conveyor,1nay;be adjusted at any time to correspond with the, height ,ofthestack .it Vat the time.

To ,stop the elevating conveyor, the operator presses the stop button A92. This opensthe cir- `cuit through the relay ,Msothat the motor switch 95. isopenedand the mOtQrMZstOpped. Theholding-circuit orthe start switch-93 is also opened Aat .the contact bar |29. The pressing fof lthe ,stop button 492 also opens the circuits fthrough the relays HQ vand I ilZ which then Iopen their switches and thereby Iopen the circuit ,through the motor switchlrelay sothat .the hoisting motorl\i3- is stopped. The motor M3 maybe .stopped independently of theelevating conveyor motor M2 by shifting the .selector :switch .9.6 from :automaticto hand control. Thisopensthecircuitsthrough :the relay coils I H0 Iand |82 'which .operates to stop the motor M3 asjust-jdescribed. By shifting -the selector switch 96 `hack to automatimthe hoisting -motor M3 is again started.

To -stop all operations, the operator pushes the movement, @motor-,seared tothe.y rceeivinsecenf veyor, la second motor Igeared to the elevating :cameron-a hoisting .-motor. operating connections betweenthe,v hoisting motor V and theelevating conveyor for moving the discharge ,end-:ofthe elevating conveyor upwardly as -blanks arcidolivered therefrom and for lower-ingtheconveyor when a stack of the blanks has been built up, and automatic control devices controlling the operation of said motors, said control devicesineluding means for periodically reversing .the .hoisting motor and. thereby lifting andV lowering the elevating conveyor, means `for stopping ,said second motor and the Velevating conveyor'belts during `the lowering of the elevating conveyor, andmeans for reducing thespeed of the rst vmentioned vmotor and running the receiving conveyor -at a reduced speed. during the lowering of theelevatinaeonveyon JA2-;Appeu.etes fer conveying and elevating blanlrs, comprising a horizontally .disposed receiving conveyor including vparallel horizontally spaced endless conveyor beltspulleys at the discharge. end of the receiving conveyor over which the belts are trained, ,a shaft on .which `said .pulleys .are mounted, ,an elevating .conveyor comprising parallel spacedendless conveyor belts. in line with saidiirst mentioned belts,V theA elevating conveyor being upwardly and forwardly rinc lined and having itsreceiving end positioned below Vthe discharge end of the receiving conveyor, and guards mounted onthereceiving conveyor frame, said guards being interposed Vbeim/.een the receiving conveyor belts and located entirey below theplane ofthe forwardlytraveling stretches ,0f the receiving ,conveyor .belts .said suardsextendingierwardlvover the said shaft teanosition .directly `.over the receiving end .portion .0f ,the elevating ,conveyor .and theneedownwerdly hetwcenthe. conveyor 4belts-0f the elevetinecon- ,vever- .3.Apneratus 'for .conveying .and .stacking .blanks .comprising a receiving .conveyenan elevatingconveyor mounted in advance of .thereeevirxeeonveyer in Suche manner that thereceivins .en .d .of the `elevating conveyor v.may Swine abcut ai horizontal axis, .electric motersineluding etno-speed Ymotor geared .to the receiving 00.11- ,veycn .a second motor .seared to Ythe .elevating ,convertit e -hoisting motor, .operating connecti ns .between theheistins. motenend theelevatins .conveyor fer .elevating .the discharge .endf the conveyor, automatic controlmechanismior the motors, inehldinsmeansfcr reriodicallyshiftinstlleftwcrspeedmetcr from fast toslcw ,Speed and after a time intervalshi'fting it again tofast speed, .said control mechanism includingmeans ior. stopping the second lI notor when the L first motor isshited to slow speed .and fcrstarting the .second-.motor when the iirst .motoris returned .to rast speed, ,said control mechanism including means for periodically reversing the hoisting motor,. running, it in fa direction to lower .the elevating conveyor While the second motorie .-at rest Vand for again reversing the hoisting motor fwhenthe second motor-is started, .the receiving ,endcf theelevating conveyor being swung .about `a horizontal axis when the discharge end -of :said .conveyor is lifted or lowered.

.4. The apparatus deiinedinclaimBincluding manual control means by Which the discharge 44end of theqelevating conveyormay be -inched up `or -down relatively to its Vnormal upward movement by the hoisting motor.

.5- Apparatus for conveying and fstaeleins blanks comprising a receiving conveyor, an elevating conveyor mounted in advance of the receiving conveyor in such a manner that the receiving end of the elevating conveyor may swing about a horizontal axis, electric motors including a two-speed motor geared to the receiving conveyor, a second motor geared to the elevating conveyor, a hoisting motor, operating connections between the hoisting motor and the elevating conveyor for elevating the discharge end of the conveyor, and automatic control mechanism for the motors, including means for periodically shifting the two-speed motor from fast to slow speed, and after a time interval shifting itiagain to fast speed, said control mechanism including means for stopping the second motor when the rst motor is shifted to slow speed and for starting the second motor when the rst motor is returned to fast speed, said control mechanism including means for periodically reversing the hoisting motor and running it in a direction to lower the elevating conveyor while the second motor is at rest and for again reversing the hoisting motor when the second m-otor is started, a selector switch in the control circuits of the motors and operable to shift the motors from automatic to manual control, and stop and start the hoisting motor the receiving end of the elevating conveyor being swung about a horizontal axis when the discharge end of said conveyor is lifted or lowered.

6. Apparatus for receiving, conveying, elevating, and stacking blanks, comprising a receiving conveyor, a two-speed electric motor geared to the conveyor, an elevating conveyor positioned to receive blanks from the receiving conveyor, a second electric motor geared to the elevating conveyor, said elevating conveyor mounted for up and down swinging movement for raising the discharge end -thereof as blanks are delivered therefrom and accumulated to form a stack and then lowering said discharge end, an electric hoisting motor geared to the elevating conveyor for raising and lowering said discharge end, automatic control devices for the motors, comprising upper limit switches actuated as the elevating conveyor reaches its upper position and operable to reduce the speed of the two-speed motor, stop the said second motor and reverse the hoisting motor and thereby cause the elevating conveyor to be lowered, said control mechanism including means for again reversing the hoisting motor when the elevating conveyor reaches its lowered position, starting said second motor and shifting the two-speed motor from low speed to high speed.

. 7. Apparatus for conveying, elevating and stacking blanks, comprising a receiving conveyor including an endless traveling belt, an elevating conveyor including an endless traveling belt in line with the receiving conveyor belt, the elevating conveyor comprising a frame, means for mounting said frame for combined up-and-down swinging movement about the receiving end thereof as an axis and movement bodily in the direction of its length, automatic means for lifting the discharge end of the elevating conveyor as the blanks are being discharged therefrom, means for guiding said discharge end of the conveyor in a substantially vertical direction during I said lifting movement, the elevating conveyor including a roll at the discharge end thereof over which the elevating conveyorbelt runs, hangers pivoted to swing about the :axis of said roll, a weighted bar carried by said hangers to swing therewith and having a front face extending into close proximity the portion of the elevating conveyor belt running over saidroll and held by gravity in a substantially vertical plane throughout the lifting movement of the elevating conveyor, thereby preventing the discharged blanks from being carried back under the conveyor and guiding the blanks into alignment in a stack.

Y JULIUs n. WILSKE.

FRANCIS A. MCCORMICK.

VERNEY G. POLITSCI-I.

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